Parental Leave
This section covers Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave and Shared Parental Leave
Maternity Leave
If you are pregnant, please let HR know as soon as possible so we can support you with making arrangements for your leave and ensure you are safe at work through your pregnancy.
Maternity Checklist
- Let your line manager know as soon as you are happy to share your news (the earlier you do this the better your line manager can support you and ensure you receive time off from work to attend any medical appointments)
- Familiarise yourself with the University contractual maternity leave and maternity pay schemes
- Complete the maternity risk assessment with your line manager and return this to HR
- Decide if you will want to take up the shared parental leave option. Please get in touch with HR about shared parental leave so we can assist in completing the forms as they can be complex to complete.
- Complete and submit your Maternity Leave plan to HR so we can confirm the dates of your leave, you may find the maternity dates calculator helpful for completing your plan.
- Ensure that you supply your matB1 form from your GP or midwife to HR, this ensures you receive your maternity pay while on leave. The matB1 should be provided around week 21 of your pregnancy.
- Discuss the parental leave checklist with your line manager. This is designed to support and help mitigate any career impact of taking a period of parental leave
- Discuss your annual leave with your line manager. Annual leave continues to accrue while you are on maternity leave including any bank holidays that fall while you are on leave. We recommend agreeing a plan to use that leave with your line manager. Accrued leave can be used at the end of your maternity leave to extend your leave or used to return to work part time for a while.
Paternity Leave
If your partner is pregnant, please let HR know as soon as possible so we can support you with arrangements for your leave.
Paternity Checklist
- Let your line manager know as soon as you are happy to share your news (the earlier you do this the better your line manager can support you and ensure you receive time off from work to attend any antenatal appointments)
- Familiarise yourself with the University contractual paternity leave scheme
- Decide if you will want to take up the shared parental leave option. Please get in touch with HR about shared parental leave so we can assist in completing the forms as they can be complex to complete.
- Complete and submit your Paternity Leave plan to HR so we can confirm the dates of your leave.
Links and Documents
Shared Parental Leave
If you wish to take Shared Parental Leave, please let HR know as soon as possible so we can support you with making arrangements for your leave the University guidance and forms can be complex.
Shared Parental Leave CHECKLIST
- Let your line manager know as soon as you are happy to share your news (the earlier you do this the better your line manager can support you and ensure you receive time off from work to attend any medical/antenatal appointments)
- Familiarise yourself with the University contractual shared parental leave scheme
- Complete and submit your Shared Parental Leave Forms to HR so we can confirm the dates of your leave.
- Discuss the parental leave checklist with your line manager. This is designed to support and help mitigate any career impact of taking a period of parental leave
- Discuss your annual leave with your line manager. Annual leave continues to accrue while you are on shared parental leave including any bank holidays that fall while you are on leave. We recommend agreeing a plan to use that leave with your line manager. Accrued leave can be used at the end of your leave to extend your leave or used to return to work part time for a while.
Unpaid Parental Leave
The University provides an Unpaid Parental Leave Scheme to support working parents. Details of the scheme are available on the University website